Pacing back and forth in Johnny’s family home, Sarah couldn’t seem to get her emotions under control. For days, Johnny had been working on a plan to retrieve her sister. Every night he came home and climbed into bed, wrapped his arms around her and promptly fell asleep.

This morning she’d had a bit of an epiphany when she walked into the bathroom to give him clean towels. He was stood in the shower with his back to her and she had the strongest urge to join him. Pulling off her clothing, she was getting ready to step into the shower and caught a glimpse of her own back in the huge vanity mirror. Seeing them naked together with the matching images drove the point home to her that they were ridiculously similar in their thinking, almost mirror images of each other. Where in the world would she ever find another Johnny?

Stepping over the threshold into the shower with him felt very much like stepping into a new understanding about the nature of their relationships. She could tell that he was on the same page by the way he wordlessly wrapped her up in his massive arms, holding her for a long time as the warm water poured over them. Finally, he pulled away and tenderly soaped her up. She reciprocated, then they rinsed off, dried off and got dressed. He’d dropped her off at his parent’s house, promising her everything would be fine.

“Pacing never helps, child.”

Turning, Sarah nodded to Johnny’s mother. The older woman stood staring at her with a little frown on her face. Though she must be close to forty-five, the petite brunette didn’t look a day over thirty. Her big brown eyes evidenced her concern.

“Sorry, I’m just anxious.”

“Come and have some coffee.”

Following the woman over to a small setting area, Sarah dropped into an easy chair. “How do you handle the stress?”

“What stress?”

Searching the older woman’s face, she mumbled. “Knowing they’re out there, possibly in a dangerous situation and we’re stuck here where we can’t do a damn thing about it.”

The woman laughed. “You’re adorable to worry for them, but it’s almost like you never met them before. No matter the situation, I put my money on my cunning husband to come out on top. Johnny is much like his father in that regard.”

“I agree, but even they can’t anticipate every eventuality. I’d rather be covering their back with a sniper rifle from a safe distance than sitting here on my hands.”

“Ah, this is where we differ. I am not a fighter, therefore I do not even dream of such things. Have you ever shot a person from a distance that way before?”

Nodding her head, she took the cup of coffee Mrs. Carlo offered. “I was in the military and spent time in Afghanistan. Being a sniper didn’t bother me as much as some of the other functions of my job.”

“Violence from far away seems like it might be easier for a woman than violence up close.”

Sipping coffee while talking about the best way for women to kill seemed oddly normal. Sarah smiled ruefully. “I can do violence up close when I need to.”

“This I have heard. I was told you beat your partner for insinuating you had sex with my Johnny. Such things must be a high insult among law enforcement officers.”

Shaking her head, Sarah clarified. “Agent Thomas has always been a bit of an asshat. I let him have it for daring to judge, not for a perceived insult. Who is he to sit in judgement of women, deciding which are the whores and which are the victims? He’s nobody special and he should learn to keep his mouth shut.”

The woman smiled slightly. “I see. A woman in my position hears many things. It is said you and my Johnny are in love.”

Nodding, Sarah took another sip of her coffee. “That is correct information. It’s what kills me about being forced to sit this one out.”

“You believe that your place is at his side, watching his back?”

“Until we have children, then I suppose my place will be protecting them while he works.”

“You do not wish him to quit the family business?”

“What difference would it make?”

“If you wished it, he might acquiesce to such a demand.”

“I don’t believe in making demands, least of all with Johnny. He doesn’t respond well to having his back against the wall. Besides, I shudder to think what kind of vocation he could chose if he left his father’s business.”

Smiling, the woman gave a differential nod. “I see what you mean. My Johnny is quite the thrill seeker.”

Finally unable to keep the grin off her face, Sarah responded. “He’d probably end up being a jet pilot or joining the special forces.”

His mother seemed to consider her words. “I would not like to think of the all the dangerous mischief he could get himself into. At least here, he is surrounded by people he can trust.”

“I sometimes wonder if he truly trusts anyone.”

“Intelligent people always carry a healthy reserve of skepticism. Mobsters have peculiar personalities. I think my handsome Don trusts very few besides me and Johnny.”

Sarah’s phone finally rang. She answered it on speakerphone, when Johnny’s image came up.

“Johnny, are you okay? Is everyone safe?”

“Calm down Doll, everyone’s fine. Everything went just like we planned and we got the package. I gotta say, she don’t look nothin’ like you though.”

Standing, she began to pace again. “Are you sure you got the right person?”

“Oh, I can see the family resemblance alright. I just don’t think she looks much like you, that’s all I’m sayin’.”

“How long ‘til you’re here?”

“You missin’ me Doll, or just anxious to see your long lost sister?”

“Both.”

“Good answer, babe. Look, we’re on our way to airport. From there it will about two hours.”

“I want to meet you at the airport.”

Johnny’s voice took on dark, threatening quality. “You will stay the fuck put. You step one foot out of that goddamn fortress my pops calls a home and I swear to God, I’ll set your ass on fire.”

Sarah couldn’t help that her voice raised slightly as she gripped the cell phone tightly enough to turn her knuckles white. “Unlike your friend’s women, I am not a frail little princess that needs to be locked away for her own safety. I’m a goddamn soldier and you need me covering your flank, so don’t even think of keeping me locked up in your little tower.”

“You’ll stay put or I’ll have our guy tie you to my bed.”

“This is not how our relationship is going to work, Johnny. You need to get your head around that right from the beginning. I refuse to let you smother out all my independence. I need space to breathe.”

“Then you shouldn’t have hooked up with a protective bastard like me.”

Frowning down at the phone, she started to reply. He spoke in a marginally more conciliatory tone. “Just this once. Stay put just this once, Babe. Just for me.”

His pleading words took all the fight right out of her. She sat back down with a sigh. “Fine, Johnny. I’ll stay here and wait for you like a good little girl.”

“I’ll bring you a special treat.”

Smiling slightly, she deadpanned back. “I think, I’ve had that treat before. If I remember correctly, it was pretty fantastic.”

“Love you, babe.”

“I love you too, Johnny. Be careful.”

“See you before you know it.”

She watched as the phone went dark in her hand. Mrs. Carlo sat down, looking curious. “Don’t you think it’s strange that he didn’t offer to let you speak to your sister?”

“Not really. She might not remember me if they’ve been drugging her. If she’s not impaired, then she’s probably having a staring contest with him about now. She won’t believe any of this is true until she sees me.”

The woman poured herself another coffee from the carafe. “You are going to have to learn how to handle men. Mobsters do not like being confronted.”

“Yeah well, that sounds like good advice but putting it into practice is an entirely different matter.”

“I’m merely suggesting you can catch more flies with honey. Men are like big dangerous babies. They love respect, affection and sex. Just remember what motivates them and bargain for what you need, without being too obvious about it.”

“It seems that no matter my approach, Johnny always gets his way.”

“Much like his father, he has a very strong personality. In the beginning it seemed his father always got his way as well. As time wore on, I began to notice all the details it took to keep me safe and some semblance of a normal life in place. Just something as simple as getting my hair done once a week, involves coordinating a driver, at least four bodyguards and vetting my hairdresser and all her clients for the day. I began to understand that I was the focus of his world and suddenly I no longer begrudged him the decisions he made on my behalf. Johnny will loosen up as your lives together begin to blend. You will find a system that works for the two of you.”

Running a nervous hand through her hair, Sarah commented self-consciously. “You’re not catching me at my best here. I can roll with just about any situation but knowing that he’s out there doing dangerous things without me. It really sets off my anxiety.”

“Why don’t you go up and have a nice relaxing shower and try to rest? They will be here in a few hours. I doubt you will get an opportunity after that. You and your sister will want to catch up and Johnny will be eager to spend time with you as well.”